I actually really liked this! The art has a very Saga comic vibe to it which I liked a lot. I really liked the concept of the plot, with a dating app that takes things a little to far. It's a quick read, it has some spiciness in it, with great characters! Overall really happy I picked this up!

Crave is an erotica thriller graphic novel about an app called Crave that randomly ends up on university students' cell phones one day. You tell the app your desires, and it "helps" you get them. People really like it at first, but then things go south in a hurry. It's up to our main characters to find out who is behind it and how to stop the app before too much chaos ensues.

Ok, so this is a super quick read. The plot is very straightforward. I found the characters to be very one-dimensional. The art was good, but not great. If you're looking for something quick and spicy that you can knock out in an hour or less, this may be for you. If you're LGBTQIA+, be aware that a side character is outed.

Thank you to Image comics, author Maria Llovet, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This comic was so fun! It was reminiscent of Maneki Neko, but set in a college setting and an exceptional piece on social psychology. It was very steamy and kept me engaged throughout and I can't wait for the next volume to come out!!

I saw the cover and description of this and thought I’d give this a try. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this!

This was my first comic by Maria. I’m impressed by the art and its quality of the use of guesswork, but I wish it was longer so we could get more exposure to the characters, and more info about what is going on with the world around them I guess? The app Crave is let loose and instead of the love that it’s made out to be it’s more like instant lust. Which is more the apps doing than people realize. A major plot point is a murder, an attempted suicide, and several sexual scenes. Now I’m no stranger to any of these scenes thanks to my extensive history with dark romance, but the comic DOES need a trigger warning for publication.


Overall I did enjoy this a lot! I read it in one sitting but my only gripe is that it’s a bit too short to get really good and into it, but as is such with many a comic! There needed to be a little more character and plot development than sex imagery IMHO, and if needed for pub, a trigger warning list would be a good idea. Otherwise it was a great read for me!

I loved this book alot! The characters were quite complex and well fleshed out! I loved the art style as well!

The art style drew me to the book, with an exciting premise surrounding an AI app gone rogue. Although a troupey concept, I thought framing it through desire and cravings was an interesting execution for an AI assistant. Although I enjoyed the art throughout I found the story fell very flat in execution. I think if you aren't looking for anything challenging and enjoy the art and concept, you can still enjoy Crave.
My more specific critics are:
- Generally speaking, the narrative felt very basic for an AI. I don't feel like it was breaking any new ground, nor did it have any new points to make.
- The characters all felt very flat and one-dimensional, making it hard for me to stay engaged in the story's stakes or any of their relationships. By the end of the book, I didn't feel like I knew any of them, and the information given to me felt forced.
- Although I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of lgbt side characters, I felt like their plot felt especially undeveloped and just not great to read, especially as a lesbian myself. It felt like a weird, sad side thing.

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐💫

"Crave" is a story set in college where students use the app called Crave to help them fulfill their hidden desires. But with undesirable truths being revealed and dystopian consequences in the mix, four students must team up to stop the chaos Crave is creating on campus and keep it from making it to the next stage in its development.

I really enjoyed the story, moreso towards the end where the quest starts. Based on how Crave operates, the stakes were high and the way the app itself was able to kind of fight back was exciting.

The only downside to my reading experience was the amount of sexual content. I didn't know (or maybe forgot) it was an erotic thriller so it was a bit unexpected and slightly off-putting at first to see all the sex scenes. I mean, it is called Crave so I guess I should've expected this kind of thing, but it definitely took me a moment to get used to. With that said, I liked how there was no shame in it. None of the characters themselves felt bad about being sexual or wanting to be and it was a comforting feeling. But with the Crave app there's always something that can go wrong. The dubious consent related to users receiving photos and videos of other students and the easy access and usage of revenge porn wasn't my favorite.

As for the characters, I liked Sophia and Albert from the beginning. Their connection made the most sense and out of all the couples that get together, they were my favorite. And I gotta say his "swords-crossing" shirt is kinda iconic, though I did notice it randomly gets switched out for a black shirt at one point. Understandable since they were on campus at the time, but also very random.

The love triangle between David, Alex, and Charlotte was fine. I didn't really care for the one-sided rivalry between Alex and Charlotte, but I did appreciate how David resolves things with Charlotte.

Out of all the characters, I appreciated Charlotte's development the most and Julie's backbone for not wanting to reconcile with the person that hurt her. I do think the professors should've gotten a greater punishment for what they did. That was the only thing I was disappointed by.

I think the fascinating thing about the Crave app is that it really brought out people's true colors, as destructive and invasive as it was. Seeing the kinds of people we become when the truth comes out and having to be confronted with it can really make or break a person. And a lot of the students on campus broke from experiencing the Crave app. Students seemed to trust the app and blindly do what it told them rather than trust their friends and think for themselves. It was complete chaos. But many also came together, too. It really highlighted the ups and downs human nature and how easily things can fall apart, yet community and proper communication with one another can really save people.

[I received this as an arc on Netgalley]

Crave delivers an enticing blend of style and substance. In a saturated marketplace dominated by superheroes and space operas, this erotic thriller stands out. Llovet’s simple yet ragged artwork draws readers in, leaving details to their imagination. The exploration of desire—both physical and social—adds depth, as does the tension surrounding the mysterious app called Crave. However, the risk lies in somewhat shallow characters and a premise that treads familiar ground. Still, the allure of this genre-bending tale keeps us turning the pages.

Pros:
Stylish Eroticism: Llovet’s tantalizing art style captivates, especially her detailed full lips.
Tension and Mystery: The Crave app’s chokehold on a university campus adds intrigue.
Story-Driven: A coming-of-age narrative with depth, despite its characters’ limitations.

Cons:
Familiar Premise: “Crave” doesn’t break entirely new ground.
Character Depth: While the story shines, the characters remain somewhat two-dimensional.

Crave falls short due to its reliance on established tropes. Yet, the compelling elements—art, tension, and storytelling—keep us invested.

This graphic novel was amazing. I was obsessed with the story from start to finish. The ending leaves you wanting more and more.

I really enjoyed the concept of this! It felt like a black mirror episode! This was my first spicy graphic novel and it was interesting. I wish there was more development in the relationships as they felt kind of surface level, but then again that was kind of the point of the app right? I would definitely continue the series if more were to come out :)

This was...weird?

Basically a story of a app that makes your dreams come true...kind of. But sexual dreams. Like tinder but even quicker to get laid. Makes you wanna get down and dirty and our leads get to doing the deed quick. It's fast paced, the sex scenes are solid, while graphic, aren't overly graphic in terms of seeing every detail but enough you know if they're going down on someone or pounding em. It's odd though the character seem almost like props for the plot. Plot itself is simple, stop the app from making everyone a sexual monster. Overall a decent 2.5 out of 5, I'll bump it to a 3 for the art, it's solid.

This book was outside my norm, as it was a comic book. At first I found it difficult to follow who was who, but about half way through I got into it and somewhat enjoyed it. It was a quick read and I'm glad I gave it a try.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the comic Crave.The story kept me on my toes with its unexpected twists and turns, making it hard to put down. The characters weren’t as well-developed as I would like but I still enjoyed it and the artwork beautifully complements the narrative.

What I loved most was the unpredictability of the plot. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would take a surprising turn. This kept me eagerly turning the pages.
I’m also excited for the upcoming spin-off story. If it’s anything like Crave, it promises to be another thrilling read.

The only problem I have is that it was too short for my liking. I NEEDED MORE :)

Highly recommend this book.

4/5✨

Crave

📖 via E Arc

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the reader the ability to have a copy for review.

Crave is such a beautifully put together graphic novel, the art had me hooked right away! Not only is the background beautiful, but the characters are so well drawn they’re stunning!!

The story itself was very intriguing, an app that tells you who you’re compatible with and how to get them?! I mean don’t we all wish for that?!!

This is the first comic style I've read in ages. I forgot how fun they were.

This is a collection of stories based on the social pressure society puts on us all. One day, when everyone wakes up, there is a new app automatically installed on all the students' phones called 'crave'. An app where you ask it what you want most, and it makes it happen. From making out with your crush to hooking up with someone, it gives you steps to follow to get what you want. But to get what you want, it will inevitably hurt someone else.

There are quite deep topics that may be triggering for some. Xoxo

This was such a fun read. I know I obviously have this account, but I'm not the biggest fan of social media. The pressure put on people to put 'their best life' online for likes. The filters everyone uses because they like 'that' face better. It's really sad that it's like this now.

There was one thing said in this that really stuck with me. Someone said in a debate about social media: "It's the need for validation; this obsession with likes and numbers, it's social status currency." Isn't that, unfortunately, the saddest yet truest thing?

Crave tackles the dangers and pressures of social media in a a confined college setting, discussing how the use of AI and social media alters our world view and choices. Crave is fine as it is, but it could have gone farther into the lengths people would go to acquire what they truly desire. Without the burden of conscious blame thanks to the prompts from Crave, the cast makes escalating moves to manipulate one another. However, the bar is never really pushed farther than sexual desire. As it is, Crave feels like the first foray into chaos, but not the true breadth of its capacity. Aside from feeling small in its gravity, the story was succinct if not a little shallow in discussing the characters motives and thinking.

I wish this comic was given more issues. I think the idea of the Crave app is an interesting one and I would have loved to see where the story could have gone. There's no better setting to tell a story about the dangers of social media than on a college campus. We saw a glimpse of what was possible outside of using it for sexual reasons but it wasn't enough for me. Although the art style wasn't my favorite it was very unique.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me a copy for an honest review.

Wow. Wow. Wow. This was captivating, tantalizing, and thrilling.
Crave had me hooked on the first page.
The concept of a random app appearing on your phone and wreaking havoc is so well done in this novel. I wish it was longer but I ate this up in one sitting. Very apocalyptic towards the end but has a nice resolution!! Crave had me feeling sad/understanding towards Charlotte since she reacts out of a broken heart but its great that they decided to get therapy in the end.
The art style is wonderful.
Overall I am giving this a 5/5! Thank you NetGalley and publishing for the opportunity to read this before its publication date.

Crave is an app that helps you fulfill your fantasies and desires (unless it doesn't) that takes a college campus by storm in this erotic thriller comic series. The illustrations are beautifully rendered in a style that brings to mind some traditional southern European erotic comic styles (Llovet has listed Guido Crepax as an influence in interviews in the past).

This is one of those books where the depiction of college feels very much like high school to me. Perhaps its the small campus politics or that the characters seem so much more interested in the idea of the status of a relationship or pairing than the person, but I found myself tuning out of the story. Beautiful art, though.

Crave is about an app that races through campus letting students feel comfortable enough to go after their cravings and desires. It starts off innocent enough but people’s desires turn dark and deadly. I enjoyed this comic immensely. The art style is easy enough on the eyes but provides a lot of detail, especially on the people. The comic flows well and keeps the reader interested for more. The characters are flawed and entertaining to read about. I recommend this comic to anyone who is looking for a new refreshing idea.